Reclosing carton



Dec. 5, 1944. R. UYER 2,564,439

RECLOSING CARTON Filed July 15, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 5, 1944.

R. GUYER REGLOSING CARTON Filed July 15, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5, 1944 RECLO SING ciurroN Reynolds Guyer, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldort Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application July 15, 1943, Serial No. 494,789,

9 Claims. (01. 229-17) I My invention relates to an improvement in reclosing carton, wherein it is desired to provide "away to form a recess into which a finger or a suitable tool may be inserted for grasping the closure tab or in separating this closure tab along its weakened line of separation from the remaining outer wall portion.

My carton in preferred form has one wall of double thickness. Aclosure tab is connected to the outer lamination thereof along a weakened line of separation. The carton is preferably wrapped with a relatively. thin wrapping sheet. A recess extends through the outer lamination of the double thickness wall adjacent the closure tab. A hollow-space is thus formed beneath the wrapping sheet throughout the area of the re; cess. By'applying external pressure against the unsupported'area of the wrapping sheet, the sheet will be fractured, simplifying the operation of engaging the closure tab- A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a closure tab provided with outwardly diverging walls. The narrowest end of the tab is connected along a fold line to a portion of an adjacent panel of the carton. This 1 closure tab cooperates with a pair of opposed tongues or projections formed on the notched inner lamination of the double thickness wall, in such a manner that the narrowest portion of the tab is frictionally engaged to hold the panel section connected therewith in a desired predetermined relationship.

The closure tab notch construction constitutes a further feature of my invention. The outer lamination of the double thickness wall includes a tab integrally connected to the composite top carton closure. vThis tab, when separated from the outer,,l'amina tion, leaves a notch therein. The

In the drawings forming apart of .my specification:

Figure '1 is a perspective view of my carton in wrapped form prior to opening.

Figure 2 is a perspectivefiiew of the upper portion of my carton, illustrating the appearance of the cart'on after the opening tab has been sepa rated from the outer lamination of the carton wall in which it is formed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the carton showing the appearancethereof when the closure has been swung into open position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the top of the carton after the closure thereof has been reclosed.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

The carton A is formed from the blank,- best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The blank includes an end. panel Io a front panel M, an end panel 12, a rear panel I3, and an inner flap or panel Hi, all of which are connected along the parallel foldlines lS, l6, I1, and I9. The flap or panel I4 is usually secured, such asby strips of adhesive and 2! to the inner surface of the carton wall l0 when the carton is formed into tubular formation. This flap or panel I4 may be formed with a notch or cut away portion 22 for economy in cutting a number of the blanks from a sheet of stock, if it is so desired.

The panel I0 is connected along the fold line 23 at its upper edge to atop closure fiap 24. The panel H is connected along its upper edge to a panel 25 along a fold line 26. A flap 21 is likewise connected along a fold line 29 to the panel l2. A fourth closure flap 30 may be connected to the upperedge of thepanel l3 along a fold line 35.- Substantially aligned fold lines 32, 33, 34. and connect the panels If), H, l2 and ill, respectively, to closure flaps 3G, 31, 39 and 40.

A tab 4| is cut from-the panel I0 along diverg- 'ing lines 42 which are connected by a transverse 'cut line 43. The cut lines 42 and 43 are substan- 44 and the cut line '43. Thecut lines 42 terminate at the fold line 23 connecting the panel Ill to the closure flap 24.

The panel I4 is provided with a notch 45 therein, which registers with the aperture left by the tab 4! when this tab is broken away from the panel Ill. The notch 45 is bounded by opposed curved lines 46 which providea pair of inwardly projecting ears 41. The lower extremities of the curved cut lines 46 are connected by a relatively straight connecting out line 49. Thus the base of the notch 45 is somewhat wider than the distance between the nearest points of the opposed tongues 41. e l p I A weakened line of separation, such as a perforated line or the like, designated by the number 50, extends from the end of'the blank jacent thereto, and extends a portion of the,

length of the fold line 3|. A fold line 53 extends transversely of the flap or panel 30 from the end of the weakened line of separation 52 to theopposite edge of this closing flap. A similar fold line 54 extends transversely of the flap 25 from a point adjacent the end of .the perforated line 5| to the opposite side'of the closing flap. The fold lines 53 and 54 coincide or lie one above the other in folded position of the carton A. 1

In .the formation of the carton A, the blank folded into tubular form and glued with the flap |4 underlying the wall l0 and adhered thereto. The lower end of the closure is; then ordinarily sealed, the flaps/3S and 39 being first bent into substantially coplanar relationship and the flaps 31 and 40 folding over the opposed flaps 36 and 39 and being secured thereto; The lower end of the box is then complete.

After the contents or the carton have been placed therein, the flaps 24 and 21 are folded into substantially coplanar relationship. The flaps 25 and 30 are then folded down to overlie the opposedflap 24 and 21 and' are adhered in this relation. Thus the carton is filled, folded and sealed.

While the carton thus described may, if desired, be used without an outer covering sheet wrapped thereabout, such a covering sheet 55 may be applied if it is desired. The covering sheet is merely wrapped about the body of the cartongin any usual or suitable way and adhered to the surface of the carton to form an outer covonly necessary to pivot the closure panel portions downwardly until they extend between the 0D- posed side walls N and IS, the narrowest portion or the locking tab 4| engaging between the pro- Jecting fingers 41 adjacent the notch 45. Figure 3 illustrates the carton in open position while Figure! of the drawings discloses a reclosed box.

prevent accidental disengagement of the tab 4| from the notch 45, by requiring flexing of the locking tab 4| during insertion or removal thereof. v

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my reclosing carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodimentthereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the I claim:

1. A carton comprising rectangularly arranged walls and end closure walls -therefor, one of said ering therefor. The covering has been omitted in all but Figure 1 for the sake of clarity.

If the covering is applied, obviously the lockmg tab 4| and the various weakened lines of separation are concealed thereby. However, by following suitable instructions on the outer covering the carton may be opened by applying inward pressure against the unsupported area 55 so as to fracture the covering sheet at this point. By inserting a finger or some fiatinstrument uch as the knife B into thefractured'opening in 1 ie outer covering, the locking tab 4| maybe pul ad or pried loose from the remainder of the panel Hi. If a covering sheet isused the locking tab 4|.

may be held in place thereby, and if, desired a perforated line 51 may be provided in the outer cover 55 to permit easy separation of the portion of the covering overlying the tab 4| from the re mainder of the covering.

When the tab 4| has been Dried loose it m be grasped between the fingers and pulled upwardly,

the integral panel portions 59 and 50 of the closlines described, if it is sodesired. The locking tab 4|, the attached flap 24, and the panels 59 and 50 adhered thereto are then free to fold along a portion of-the top of the carton.

' When it is desired to close the carton A, it is the coinciding fold lines 53 and 54so as to open walls.having a portion thereof of double thickness, a locking tab formed adjacent one edge of the outer lamination of said wall and integral with an'adiacent wall of said carton, and notch means in the inner lamination of said wall. in regtion of said one wall adjacent an edge thereof,-

said potential locking tab being integrally connected along a fold line to an adjacent wall of said carton, a potential closure formed in said adjacent wall connected to the remainder of the cartonalong a weakened line of separation, said potential closure being integrallyconnected to said locking tab along a fold line, a notch in,the

inner lamination of said one wall in registry with the notch formed in the outer wall by the separation of said potential locking ta'b from said outer lamination, and shoulder on opposed walls of said notch in said inner lamination.

3. A reclosable carton having a series oLconnected side/walls and end closure walls to form a closed carton, at least-a portion of one of said walls being formed of two laminations of material, a potential locking tab formed in the outer of said laminations and separably connected to said outer lamination along a weakened line of separation, said locking tab being integrally connected along a fold line to an adjacent wall of. said carton, at least a portion of' said adjacent wall forming .a closure end connected to the'remainder of said carton along a weakened. line of separation, said closure be-.. ing integrally connected to said locking tab locEing tab therefrom, andv opposed projections least a portion of one of said walls being formed of two laminations of material, a locking tab formed in the outer of said laminations adjacent an edge thereof, said locking tab being integrally connected to an adjacent wall along a fold line,

a second fold line in said adjacent wall substantially parallel to the fold line connecting said locking tab to said adjacent wall, a closure comprising at least a portion of said adjacent wall and being defined by weakened lines of separation extending from opposite ends of said first named fold line to the opposite ends of said second named fold lines, a notch in the inner lamination of said one wall in registry with the notch formed in the outer lamination by the separation of said locking tab therefrom, and opposed projections extending into said notch in said inner lamination and frictionally engaging opposite sides of said locking tab when said locking tab is inserted into said notch in said inner lamination. I

cent wall along a fold line, a second fold line in said adjacent wall, a weakened line of separation extending from one end of said first named fold line to the corresponding end of said second named fold line, a second weakened line of separation extending from the other, end of said first named fold line to the other end of said second named fold line, a notch in the inner of said laminations in registry with the notch formed in the outer lamination by the separation of said locking tab therefrom, said notch in said inner lamination being .frictionally engage- I able with opposite sides of said tab, and a recess in said outer lamination adjacent said locking tab. i

6. A carton comprising tubularly arranged side walls and end closure walls closing the ends thereof, at least aportion of one of said walls being formed of two laminations, a locking tab formed in said outer lamination connected at 'one end alonga fold line toa'n adjacent wall of said carton, a second fold line parallel to and spaced from said first fold line,'a weakened line of separation connecting each end of said first named fold line to the corresponding end of said secondnamed fold line. a notch in said inner lamination in registry with the notch formed in said outer lamination by the separation of said locking tab therefrom, said notch in said inner lamination being frictionally engageable with opposite sides of said tab, and a recess in said outer lamination adjacent the other end thereto, coinciding fold lines in said last named closure fi'aps extending substantially parallel to one of the first named opposed walls of said carton, at least a portion of said one wall being formed of two laminations, a locking tab in the outermost of said laminations connected to the closing flap issuing from said one wall along a fold line parallel to said coinciding fold lines, weakened lines of separation in said flap issuing from said one wall, said weakened line of separation extending from the ends of said fold line to the edges of said flap, parallel-weakened lines of separation in said last named closure flaps extending from the ends of said coinciding fold lines to the ends of said last named closure fiaps adjacent said one wall, and notch means in the inner lamination of said one wall arranged to frictionally engage opposite sides of said lookmg tab when said locking tab is inserted into said notch. v

8. A reclosable carton comprising tubularly arranged side walls, end closure fiaps issuing irom the upper ends, of said side walls and secured in overlying superimposed relation to form a top closed end for said side walls, a fold line in said top closure extending parallel to one of said side walls,- at least a portion of said one side wall being formed of two laminations, a locking tab formed in the outermost of said laminations adjacent the upper edge of said one wall, a, second fold line connecting said closure tab to said top closure wall, weakened linesof separation connecting the corresponding ends of said first named and second named fold lines in said top closure wall, a notch in the upper edge of the inner lamination of said one side wall in registry with the notch formed in the outer lamination thereof by the separation of said locking tab therefrom, a recess in said outer lamination adjacent said locking tab, and a relatively thin wrapping sheet enclosing said walls of said carton and adhered thereto.;

9. A reclosable carton comprising a series of tubularly arranged side walls and an and closure wall closing the upper end thereof, a fold line in said upper closure wall extending parallel to the juncture between said top closure wall and one of said side walls, at least a portion of said one side wall being formed of two laminations of material, a locking tab formed in the.

outer lamination of said one wall adjacent the upper edge thereof, said locking tab being connected to said top closure 'wall along a second fold line parallel the first named fold line, weakened lines of separation in said top closure wall extending from the ends of one of said fold lines to the corresponding ends of the other of said fold lines, said locking tab being defined by lines diverging outwardly from said second fold line so that the free end of said locking tab is wider than the fold line end of said locking tab,

a notch in the inner of said laminations extending a portion of the depth of the notch formed by the separation of said locking tab from the outer lamination, said notch in said irmer lamination being in registry with the notch in said outer lamination and being designed to receive the fold line end of said locking tab, and opposed projections on said inner lamination extending into said notch in said inner lamination to frictionally engage opposite sides of said locking tab.

REYNOLDS GUYER. 

